New Delhi : Pakistan may pull out of the 2023 Asia Cup after Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan rejected the hybrid model for the tournament that was offered after the Indian cricket team refused to travel to Pakistan. According to sources, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan have agreed to the BCCI’s demand that the 2023 Asia Cup, scheduled to be held in September, be held outside Pakistan. The neighbouring countries felt that holding the event at two different venues would not be logistically and financially feasible. PCB president Najam Sethi has threatened that Pakistan will boycott the 2023 World Cup in India if Indians refuse to participate in the Asia Cup in Pakistan. It is possible that this tournament will now be held in Sri Lanka.
According to the sources, Pakistan has only two options. Host the tournament at a neutral venue or withdraw from the competition. If Pakistan does not participate, the tournament will continue to be known as the Asia Cup, but the broadcaster will renegotiate the contract in Pakistan’s absence, the sources said.
Sources said the broadcasters are not ready to pay the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) the same amount as before, so the event might be cancelled this year due to Pakistan’s withdrawal. The BCCI is ready to host 4-5 nations during the Asia Cup in India if the Asia Cup is postponed.
Even after the BCCI’s refusal to visit Pakistan for the 2023 Asia Cup, Pakistani politicians, former cricketers and media figures refuse to address the core issue of terrorism and accuse India of mixing politics and sports. While the Indian media, politicians and BCCI officials remain steadfast to avoid any unwanted controversy, the Pakistanis have resisted and shown their treacherous behaviour.
The ICC is highly dependent on the funds generated by the BCCI. The PCB’s decision to withdraw from the Asia Cup and the World Cup only serves to isolate Pakistan from world cricket.
India will not send its team to Pakistan given the hostility and negative environment created by Pakistan. Pakistan says it will not hold talks or trade until India restores the special status of Kashmir. India will certainly not do that.
Pakistanis are masters of playing the victim card by mixing politics and religion first, and when India responded, they could not stand it. All these cricket tournaments bring high revenue to Indian spectators.
Sports is a tactical weapon that can be used to achieve political goals, whether it was in the Cold War between the U.S.-led Western world and the Soviet Union-led Communist world, all of which were used to achieve their political goals. India and Pakistan have a rich history that they use when necessary.